Though not really uncommon a development, the two parties are using cartoons and memes to target each other on social networking sites.

In the latest instance, the TMC shared a cartoon on its official X handle on Sunday where party supremo Mamata Banerjee is seen protecting West Bengal by holding the map of the state from the natural disaster which occurred in Jalpaiguri district a few days ago.

“Bengal can sleep because she’s always awake!” TMC said in the post with the cartoon.

In a counter to the TMC’s post, the BJP used the same cartoon of Banerjee but replaced the Bengal map with the image of an infant having the face of arrested TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan and wrote on X, “Mamata Banerjee, the unyielding shield of Shahjahan’s tyranny.”

Last week, the BJP slammed the TMC over a cartoon showing the CM kicking a ladder on which Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior BJP leaders are seen climbing.

The ruling party shared the cartoon on X with the caption, “Bengal’s gates are fortified, and Smt. @MamataOfficial stands guard! The bohiragoto BJP jomidars who are trying to crawl their way in, will find themselves tumbling head over heels.”

Apart from PM Modi, the cartoon also shows Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Leader of Opposition in state Assembly Suvendu Adhikari and former judge of Calcutta High Court Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay.

Targeting the TMC over the cartoon, BJP IT cell in-charge and the party’s co-incharge of Bengal Amit Malviya wrote on X: “Mamata Banerjee, the sitting CM of Bengal, is shown kicking the Prime Minister of India. This is a direct threat to harm the life and kill the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and BJP Bengal leaders.”

Criticising the TMC, BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya called the post “unfortunate” and “maligning”.

Following the nomination of Bhojpuri actor-turned-politician Pawan Singh as a BJP candidate from Asansol on March 2, TMC leaders were quick to take to social media to target the BJP.

Sharing posters of songs featuring the Bhojpuri singer, TMC spokesperson Riju Dutta posted on X: “PM @narendramodi was advocating for women in Bengal and shedding crocodile tears…Now, @BJP4India fields @PawanSingh909 from Asansol !! Some samples of Pawan Singh’s vulgar music videos disrespecting Bengal’s mothers & daughters… Bengal’s ‘Naari Shakti’ will give him a befitting reply.”

Following the criticism, Singh later said he won’t contest the Lok Sabha election